I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This was a really good mystery that kept me guessing until the end.

The Enemy You Gnocchi is the third book in Catherine Bruns’ Italian Chef Mysteries series. The storyline flows smoothly in this steadily paced cozy whodunit, and the well-developed characters are delightful. Ms. Bruns is a talented author whose descriptive writing brings the reader right into the action. The tightly plotted mystery contains plenty of twists, red herrings, and suspects to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.

The annual Festival of Lights is underway, and Tessa Esposito, a talented Italian chef, is hosting Breakfast with Santa at her restaurant, Anything’s Pastable. While still grieving the passing of her husband just over a year ago, Tessa is determined to savor the holiday and all it has to offer. When Mario Russo, a new Harvest Park resident and the owner of The Espresso Lane, turns up dead, Detective Gino Mancusi, Tessa’s cousin, must follow the evidence which points to Archie Fenton, Tessa’s good friend and the owner of Java Time. Since Mario’s arrival in Harvest Park, he’s made enemies of almost everyone he’s met, so in Tessa’s mind, the pool of potential suspects is unlimited, and she is determined to clear her friend’s name.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Poisoned Pen Press and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Catherine Burns has a new holiday mystery so settle in and get cozy with this cozy mystery. The characters are likable and the recipes are fantastic.

Tessa is ready to celebrate the holidays starting with the Festival of Lights.
It's been just over a year since she had became a widow, and she's ready to start living and enjoying her favorite holiday again.

When Mario, the newest business owner in town is killed at the festivals opening night, few if any of the towns citizens and none of the other business owners are really sorry he's gone.
The man went out of his way to make an enemy of everyone he met.

Pro's
Strong and developed characters and plotline, and a really good mystery with lots of suspects.

Con's:
The story ended too quickly!

This is the third book in this series and I would say it's best in the series so far.
With characters that draw you in, and plenty of distractions to keep the story moving at a steady pace.
There's a solid mystery, and for the romantics. Enough of those sidelines to keep the majority of them satisfied, but not enough to distract from the main story.

I received an advance copy of, The Enemy You Gnocchi, by Catherine Bruns. This is a nice murder mystery. I liked the characters, especially Tess. I like that they have recipes, in the back of the book.

I've always liked this series but this book was exceptional. What a wild ride of emotions! Every character was interesting and real. I was fully engrossed and read it straight through.

THE ENEMY YOU GNOCCHI, the third book in the Italian Chef Mysteries by Catherine Bruns, continues the story of Italian chef, Tessa Esposito, with a temptingly delicious read. From the start, the author’s strong descriptive voice brings the reader right into the thick of things, with the sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes of Tessa’s cooking evoking the holiday season. Ms. Bruns has also taken care to create memorable characters that complement each other on the pages, as well as change and grow over the course of the series. Especially enjoyable are Tessa and her cousin/best friend, Gabby. Their repartee adds a sense of family and closeness, which allows the reader to feel like they’re getting to know them on a deeper level. While this book can be read as a standalone, starting from the beginning builds an appreciation for how the characters’ personalities and lives move forward.

With a tightly plotted mystery of finding out who would have wanted to kill Santa during the town’s Festival of Lights, including Tessa herself, I was kept glued to the pages. There were clues to keep me on my toes and suspects aplenty that kept me guessing, unsuccessfully I should add. The surprising and suspenseful reveal had me on the edge of my seat until I’d read the very last page. This drool-worthy mystery is a great way to usher in the holiday season while munching on cookies and sipping hot cocoa!

With so many mouthwatering dishes and desserts mentioned throughout the story, it was a pleasure finding several recipes at the back of the book. They all sound fantastic!

It’s Christmas time in Harvest Park and Tessa Esposito is ready for the town’s Festival of Lights. Even though there’s a new coffeehouse in town and it’s taking some of her business she is going to enjoy the holidays. Then when they find the new coffeehouse wonder dead at the Festival of Lights, Tessa ha some sleuthing to do in order to save one of her BFFs who is the prime suspect. Will it be a Merry Christmas or will there be more ghosts joining the local Scrooge this holiday?

This is a great series and I absolutely adore it! This is an author I have read before and i thoroughly enjoy her writing style and characters. If you haven’t read one of her books yet, give tis one a try, it reads fine as a standalone and you will be able to bing her other works and catch up.

I really enjoyed this latest installment in this series. I have read all of the books in this series, but this book could be read as a standalone. Not only did I enjoy the mystery, but I also enjoyed reading about Tessa trying to open up her heart again to love.